δωδεκά-φῡλος G1429
The twelve tribes, collective designation for the tribes of Israel as a unified whole
A compound adjective meaning 'of twelve tribes,' used as a noun for the collective people of Israel. Acts 26:7 has Paul speak of 'our twelve tribes' earnestly serving God day and night, hoping to attain the promise. Though ten tribes had been scattered centuries earlier, Judaism maintained the concept of the unified twelve-tribe nation. The term emphasizes Israel's corporate identity as God's covenant people. Paul's usage shows the resurrection hope was fundamentally Jewish, not a new religion.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Acts 26:7 has Paul referencing 'our twelve tribes' serving God in hope of the resurrection promise. The term designates Israel collectively as the complete nation of twelve tribes, despite historical dispersion. English 'twelve tribes,' Spanish 'doce tribus,' and French 'douze tribus' all maintain this numerical-ethnic designation. Paul's reference affirms continuity between Israel's ancient hope and Christian resurrection faith—Jesus fulfills Jewish promises, not replacing but completing Israel's story. 1×
AR["اثْنَا-عَشَرَ-سِبْطًا-لَنَا"]·ben["বারো-গোত্র"]·DE["δωδεκάφυλον"]·EN["twelve-tribes"]·FR["douze-tribus"]·heb["שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂר־שְׁבָטִים"]·HI["बारहगोत्र"]·ID["dua-belas-suku"]·IT["dodici-tribu"]·jav["kalih-welas-taler"]·KO["열두-지파가"]·PT["doze-tribos"]·RU["двенадцать-колен"]·ES["doce-tribus"]·SW["makabila-kumi-na-mbili"]·TR["on-iki-kabile"]·urd["بارہ-قبیلے"]
Related Senses
H5971a 1. people, nation (1836×)H5973a 1. accompaniment, together with (956×)H0854 1. with (accompaniment) (665×)H1471a 1. nations, peoples (plural/collective) (466×)G3326 1. with (368×)H1285 1. covenant, pact, treaty (284×)G2453 1. Jewish person, Jew (194×)H4150 1. meeting (tent of meeting) (151×)G2992 1. people/nation (an ethnic or political community) (142×)G4862 1. (129×)G1484 1. Gentiles, non-Jewish nations (128×)H1471a 2. nation, people-group (singular) (98×)H3162b 1. together (97×)H1616 1. sojourner, resident alien (92×)H0567 1. Amorite (people group) (87×)H3064 1. Jew, Jewish person (81×)H3669a 1. Canaanite (ethnic designation) (70×)G1122 1. scribe / expert in the Law (63×)H2114a 1. stranger, foreigner (person) (54×)H5608b 1. scribe, royal secretary (48×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
δωδεκά-φῡλος, ον, of twelve tribes, τὸ δ. the twelve tribes of Israel, NT